Portable refrigerator



Sept. 4, 1951 R. WINGERTER 2,566,865

' PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Filed Dec. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I VEN TOR.

(5 l ALZJJJ R. WING ERTER PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Sept. 4, 1951 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1946 Q o O O a b u I n p a I a a n I n I nn n I aff/orny p 1951 R. WINGERTER 2,566,865

PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Filed Dec. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 4lfllkzjel zfer 5L7 Alma? fl/ornev Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR Ralph Wingerter, Akron, OhioApplication December 26, 1946, Serial No. 718,327

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to mechanical refrigerators and moreparticularly to portable automatic refrigerator units.

x A general object of the invention is to provide a portablerefrigerator unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved "mechanicalrefrigerator unit wherein a cooling element may be selectivelypositioned relative to the unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved medical icepack artificially maintained at a predetermined temperature.

Another object is to provide an improved means of maintaining thetemperature of a cooling bath such as is used in photographic, andvarious chemical and manufacturing processes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved coolingelement which is acid and corrosive resistant and, consequently, may beplaced directly into acids and other solutions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved portablerefrigerator unit having selectively variable automatic temperaturecontrol means.

According to this invention, a refrigerator unit is arranged to bereadily portable and to have a cooling element which may be selectivelypositioned relative to the unit. This unit is adaptable to many chemicaland industrial processes wherein it is necessary to cool small amountsof solutions or gases, or to maintain them at a predeterminedtemperature. The cooling element may be used in place of ice packs orbags for medical purposes. A simple control switch enables the attendantto change the effective temperature of the cooling element at willthrough an automatic control means associated with the unit.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention which will become morefully apparent from L the following detailed specification, may beachieved by means of the particular refrigerator unit constituting anexemplifying embodiment of the invention that is depicted in anddescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable refrigerator unit with thecooling element disposed outside of the carrying case and embodying thefeatures of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the unit shown in Fig. l, with partof the case broken away to show the compressor driving mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the case with the cover removed to show thecooling element storage compartment;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal view taken on the plane of lines 4-4 in Figs. 2and 5, and showing the mounting of the refrigerator unit within thecase;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken sub- 2 stantially on theplane of the line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view in horizontal crosssection disclosing theconstruction of a cooling element more generally shown in Fig. 1connected to the refrigerator unit; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the refrigeratory system.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 thereof showa portable refriger ator unit 9 enclosed in a metal case [0 having ahinged top cover ll provided with a latch l2: and carrying handle l3. Asbest shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, a horizontal separator wall l4 secured.in the top portion of the case it forms a storage compartment It inwhich certain parts of the refrigerator unit may be readily stored whennot in use. Thus the entire unit is compactly contained within the casel0 and may be readily carried at the convenience of the user thereof.

The compressor type refrigerator unit 8 generally comprises a compressorunit It, a cooler tank H, a circulating pump 18, and a cooling elementI9, as shown in Fig. 4. The various mechanisms are appropriatelyinterconnected as will be hereinafter more fully described,

The compressor IE5 is of the single-acting type, and is belt driven bymeans of a V belt 20 operating in conjunction with a motor 2| likewisemounted within the carrying case H] (see Figs. 2 and 4). A louver 22formed in the sidewall of the case It] admits suflicient air to cool theworking mechanisms of the refrigerator unit 9 with a suction fan 22Akeyed to the end of the motor shaft serving to force the air into thecase [0. The compressor It draws refrigerant from the expansion or lowside of the refrigerator system, as schematically shown in Fig. 'I, andcompresses the refrigerant to a suitable pressure. The hot refrigerantgas is circulated via a tube 23 through a condenser coil 24 shown coiledabout the outside of the insulated cooler tank ll. The condenser coil 24serves to effectively lower the temperature of the compressedrefrigerant to the point of liquification. Since the tank I! isinsulated, the heat from the coil 24 cannot be directed thereto, butrather is dissipated through a louvre 24A by the air stream created bythe fan 22A. At this point, the refrigerant passes to the high side ofthe system. After it leaves the coil 24 at high pressure, it iscirculated through a capillary tube or expansion valve 25 to theevaporating section of the refrigerator system. A conductor tube 26carries the liquid refrigerant to an evaporator coil 2! appropriatelymounted within the cooler tank ll. Therefrigerant is then drawn back tothe compressor 16 via a conductor 28 to complete the circuit. Thecooling medium, or refrigerant, used in the circuit may be any standardtype, such as sulphur dioxide, propane, or butane. It

is to be understood that the system need not necessarily be restrictedto the mechanisms described, and that other chemical refrigerants may beused with equal effectiveness.

The evaporator coil 7 21 Within the insulated cooler or brine tank I1receives the refrigerant in a highly pressurized liquid state. frigerantpasses through the coil, it absorbs the latent heat of evaporation fromthe'dinal refrigerating medium, in the particular case brine, containedin the tank ll. The finai=medium is maintained at a level within thetank to nterflow a circular bafile plate 29, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and'7. This plate serves to control the flow of liquid within the tank byconfining the chilled brin'e'solution to ltheicentral portion-of thetank after it has come :into contact with the evaporator coil 2?. Thesolution is pumpedifrom the center of the tank .1? by the circulatingpump l8 which is directly idriven ,trom amotor-Sit. Both the pump andmotor are icompactlymounted within the case !0, and are connected by'ap- .prepri-ate tubing The circulating pump lizB'servestotcirculate thebrine solution. from theta-nk H through the cooling element ii! and backto the tank. A supply line 32 carries the :solution to the cooling ele-*ment'!9,while :a line -33 returnsit to the tank. A shut-oi valve 34, asdiagrammatically shown 'in Fig, a l, 'may, beireadily inserted ;-in .thelines :32 an-133 to permitidisconnection of theelement 19 from the .restiii the circuit'with'outlosing 'any'zof the brine solution containedWithin either .offlthe "hose lines.

The lines 32' and?3:3,aespecially above the "confiires oi the horizontallseparatorwall l4 shown "in Fig. '5, are flexible in 'order to permitthe ready zplacement .of'ithe cooling element'l9outlside-fofithecompartment 11 5. vBoth lines are sencased in an:insulating'acket "or cover 35 in .order to protect "the flexible tubesagainst excessive wear or damageuand toprese'rve the tem- 'perature ofthe solution *flowing through them. A'iiexibie grommet :ttintermediai-lydisposed between the "edges .of the case 110' and vtheacover :H', asshownfinAFigs. "1 and. 3,*per-mits the cooliing' element tobeplacedoutside =of1the' compartzment i5, and allows thGCCOVGI' l-l tobe-closedthrough the placement.of.thelsheathedaorcovered :lines therein.

"TheTfleXibIe tubes *32 and "fia'i-xconnecting with the cooling element:19 vare'sufficiently .long to permit the element tobe easily-positionedatsome distance from the refrigerator unit .9. r The cooling element19,- as V-detailedly-shown "in :Fig'. 6, I

As the re-.

Thus, if the element is to be submerged chemical solution or-gas,the-composition .01 the member 37 would "necessarily.have-to be such tobe completely resistant to theinjurious efiects of such chemicals. .Thetubes '32 and .33 .are cemented directly to the molded member 3.1 .inorder to eliminate .any' possibility of .leakageat this point. The brinesolution. enters the memberlpassage 38. from'lthetubelfi,and;.after..circu-- 'lating throughthe single,passageway,leaves viatubei33 connecting with'thelbrine tank Il'Ltas indicated. by arrows T391'.'I-.he.shape and .size .of the cooling element may,-necessar-ily,.bechanged to meet a particular application.

If the portable refrigerator is to be used in hos pitals, first aidrooms, and other medical institu tions to serve as mechanical ice packs,the cooling element 19 may be provided with a removable sterilized clothbag or sack Kit. A zipper or clasp device 4'! (see Fig. 1) on the bag 4%will afiord .quick removal therefrom.

Automatic control of the refrigerator unit 9 is Iprovid'ed'in order toinsure accurate temperature controlat all times while the unit is inuse. The compressor motor 2! and the circulating pump motor 39' areelectrically interconnected into an automatic temperature controlcircuit. Power for thecircuit is derived by plugging in an extensioncord 42 connecting therewith into any stand- :ardfel'ectrical wanoutlet. 2A starting switch 43 and'aftemperature'selectorswitch :46:erezmounted on the side of the :casing :55?) .to :eiifcrdflthe nser ofmeans of starting 131161111111? and pi selectingan operating temperaturewhich he desires to main- :taLin. These switches:aretinterconnectediinto the circuit, together with -.a thermostaticecontrol device $5.5 seeliigs. i5 and .7) operablymounted on the tankl1. With this arrangement, the :temzp'era'ture ofrthefinal refrigeratingmedium the tank 5! '5 maybe accurately controlled at all tim'es whilethe :unit is operating. Themotors 2i "and are automatically energizedand deaenergized asith'e ccntrol devicessdictate.

The refrigerating :device disclosed herein has great utility,:especiallyaWhen adapted to medical, chemicalror industrial uses. Thenumber of 'applications iin :each of ithese'fleld's are "very numer-Although 'rthe'foregoing description' and .the accompanying 'sdrawingshave set forth the present invention for :*-he vmost :partin one.exemplary -mec-hanism, it is ts f'be' under-stood that the-strut) tureshown and described is intended only toirbe illustrative of an operativeembodimentsof the invention; and :that fit is contemplated that thevarlousffeatures thereof maybeincorporated into other types cofigerating systems without departing from -thesspirit: and sco'penftheinveriti'on :as :definediinxtheisubjoined claim.

'The principles of the invention having :now been lfuily-explained in-:connection with the esi- Lempliiying apparatus herein set forth, Ihereby "claim:as my inventionand discovery:

A' 'portable refrigerator unit comprising a case, azmo'tor mounted insaid case-a reirigerator unit mounted in saiacase and operatively drivenby said motor, an automatic control means electricallyi'connected tocontrol theoperation of said 'irrotorand the heat absorption of therefrigerator aunit, -:a :fiexible ire'frigerator coil element opera;tively *connectedto said refrigerator unit,'-a-'storagec'ompartment insaid-case designed to retain ssaid-rcoil lementnwhen not in use, :ac'over element hingedly. disposed :to 1 enclose said compartment, and acarrying means attachedto=said potter fto rprbvide lfor ease ofportability :or said uni V :RAEPH wr-NGERTER;

4 .RE-FERENcEs CITED 'lhe following references areof recordtin"' thehile ofth-ispaltent: V

' TINITEDlSTATESBATEN-TS 110,022 z-K-liesrath -a..- Mar..:1,'f19'38

